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Assessment of Dose Rates to Non-human Biota of Terrestrial Environment around Kaiga Generating Station, Kaiga

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Abstract

In this study, the radiological impact of naturally occurring radionuclides (238U and 232Th) and fallout radionuclide (137Cs) in the soil around the Kaiga Generating Station (KGS), Kaiga, on the terrestrial non-human biota was investigated. Through the analysis of 113 soil samples collected from 2015 to 2021, the study determined mean activity concentrations of 2.9 ± 1.4, 19.6 ± 5.2, and 24.1 ± 4.3 Bq kg−1 d.w. for 137Cs, 238U, and 232Th, respectively, in surface soil samples. Utilizing the ERICA assessment tool (v2.0) and employing the Tier-2 approach, the study estimated radiological doses to reference organisms in the terrestrial ecosystem around Kaiga. Lichens and bryophytes exhibited the highest activity concentrations for 137Cs, 238U, and 232Th, while annelids showed the lowest activity for 137Cs, and for 238U and 232Th, amphibians exhibited the minimum activity. The total dose rates (internal + external) ranged from 1.9E−03 to 6.7E−01 µGy h−1. Despite the highest dose rate of 6.7E−01 µGy h−1 observed in lichen and bryophytes, all assessed dose rates remained below the ERICA screening level of 10 µGy h−1. Risk quotient values for all reference organisms were less than 1 (RQ < 1), indicating negligible risk to non-human biota.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Environmental Survey Laboratory, Environmental Studies Section, Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Kaiga, Karnataka, 581400, India

    Sanyam Jain, R. M. Joshi, T. L. Ajith, T. K. Reji, J. P. James & M. S. Vishnu

  2. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, Maharashtra, 400085, India

    I. V. Saradhi & A. Vinod Kumar

Authors
  1. Sanyam Jain
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  2. R. M. Joshi
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  3. T. L. Ajith
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  4. T. K. Reji
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  5. J. P. James
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  6. M. S. Vishnu
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  7. I. V. Saradhi
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  8. A. Vinod Kumar
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Jain, S., Joshi, R.M., Ajith, T.L. et al. Assessment of Dose Rates to Non-human Biota of Terrestrial Environment around Kaiga Generating Station, Kaiga. MAPAN (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12647-023-00719-w

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